Piper PA-12 accident near Roselle, Illinois, July 13, 1996
On July 13, 1996 at about 6:04 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N25JP, was destroyed in an accident near Roselle, Illinois (Schaumburg Regional airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper decision to perform a go-around, while there was restricted rudder movement and the banner was still attached to the airplane, which resulted in a loss of airspeed and an inadvertent stall. Factors relating to the accident were: the banner tow line becoming entangled on the rudder horn, and the pilot's inability (or failure) to jettison the banner.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1996 · about 6:04 pm local time
- Place
- Roselle, Illinois · Schaumburg Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N25JP · no longer on the register · serial 12-1885
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After making a banner pick-up, the pilot reported that he was having a rudder problem and that the airplane had a propensity to turn to the left. The pilot was able to maneuver the airplane back over the runway. According to a witness, the pilot initiated a go-around, when the airplane was 5 to 10 feet above the runway. The airplane entered a climbing left turn with the banner still attached. The airplane then stalled and impacted terrain south of the airport. Investigation revealed evidence that the tow line had become entangled on the right rudder horn, which resulted in the diminished aircraft control.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,104 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 973 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06C Schaumburg IL at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from DPA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.